Major Aruna Athulathmudali former Town Commandant of Kandy revealed
before the Trial at Bar hearing the Udatalawinna mass murder case that the
fourth accused told him of large haul of firearms, bullets, grenades in
addition to a large fleet of vehicles remained as a standby at the first
accused Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte's Mahaiyawa residence, during
cross-examination.

The 4th accused Lt. Wijeratne was adviced to maintain the dignity of
the uniform when the fourth accused related to him that there were large
stocks of T 56 firearms grenades and ammunition, in addition to a fleet of
over one hundred vehicles stand by at the Mahiyawa residence of the first
accused Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, said Major Aruna Athulathmudali former
Town Commandant of Kandy under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Anil
Silva.

The witness further answered that he first met the fourth accused Lt.
Wijeratne at the Sinha Regiment officers mess on 1.12.01. He could not
remember whether he had said this in his statement made to the police.
What his police statement contained were the replies made to the questions
put to him by the police.

The police had questioned you as to what instructions you gave the
fourth accused. Then what did you say?

A - To follow the instructions of the army commander and to maintain
the dignity of the uniform.

Counsel: Your reply to police was, "No occasion arose for me to
give instructions to him". That was with regard to Lt. Wijeratne's
official duties what I told him was a general advice.

He said he was not aware of the PA's Akurana rally held on December 1,
2001. Asked why he failed to tell police what the fourth accused revealed
about the illegal firearm stocks etc. at the first accused's residence,
the witness said police did not questioned him on that.

When the defence suggested to the witness that on the morning of
01.12.01, the fourth accused, had left the mess by 7.45 a.m. to escort the
first accused. The witness refuted the suggestion and maintained that the
fourth accused was present at the mess at 9 a.m.

The Defence further suggested that the witness was giving false
evidence maliciously and the witness refuted the suggestion saying that he
had no reason to utter falsehoods maliciously in a matter involving an
official incident.

He also refuted the defence suggestion that the CID gave hints of the
proceedings of this case to other witnesses.

On 3.3.2001, when he telephoned Brigadier Tammita, several staff
officers were there and they could vouch for the incident. He denied the
allegation that he was lying trying to corroborate Brigadier Tammita's
evidence with falsehood.

Witness further said that on 05.12.01 he did not meet Captain Hasshim
who had left the army. On the General Election day the witness had gone to
Wattegama police and thereafter to the Panwila police.

He had given instructions to put up road blockades near the Kandy
Kachcheri following a request by SSP/Asoka Ratnaweera. The time must have
been around 5 p.m. The ballot boxes arrived at about 4.30 p.m. The
barriers were put up thereafter.

He said he did not check whether the barriers were put up because in
the Army when an order is made it is done.

On hearing about the Udatalawinna incidents, he visited the scene. It
was getting dark and the time was nearly 6.45 or 7 p.m. He remembered the
colour of the van as blue. It was a shocking site. The passengers killed
were in a pool of blood. The van was tilted after crashing into a light
post. At the time he was concerned about the victims and did not pay much
attention to the colour of the van.

He also remembered the blood stained red seat.

There were people watching at a distance. He had not seen any police
officer there. However, on the other side of the level-crossing nearby
there was a police jeep parked.

The witness had immediately rushed back to report the matter to
Brigadier Tammita.

The movement orders usually specified the nature of the assignment.
Internal security and VIP security were two different functions in the
army. The VIP security may wear civvies provided the Army Commander grants
permission.

Finally, the defence put to the witness (a) That he did not meet the
fourth accused on the 01.12.01. (b) Nobody went to Katugastota to receive
fourth accused and the platoon. (c) That the witness did not meet Lt.
Wijeratne on 3.12.01. (d) That on 5.12.01 witness did not visit
Udatalawinna. (e) That Brigadier Tammita did not tell the witness. (f)
That on 5.12.01, witness did not go to Wattegama police.

The witness refuted all the suggestions. Under re-examination, the
witness said when Lt. Wijeratne said he had to follow the instructions of
civilians (General Ratwatte's sons) he did report the matter to the
Brigadier.

He said when the police asked whose instructions Lt. Wijeratne
followed, he had replied Gen. Ratwatte's.